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It looks like this is not restricted to swords so some tsuba and in no particular order All from the Birmingham museum so I had these in hand. Also there is condition problems If the selection was from any source then the selection would have been too difficult for me Like most selections it tells more about the collector than the collected

Hi, Mei says Kataoka Kunihiro 片岡国廣　. Seki smith,WWII.

I have this link saved from a long time ago. Perhaps it will be of interest? Needs to be preserved as a .pdf: http://varshavskycollection.com/yamakichibei-tsuba/

Well....here is the holy grail of large Shin Gunto: 36 Inch Nagasa Odachi in Type 94 mounts. there aren't any measurements but the Nagasa alone is about the size of a normal Type 98 in mounts.... I doubt there is anything larger than this out there so enjoy: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/59/3292/massive-and-impressive-odachilength-Japanese-sword-with-shin-gu

My grandfather fought with the ghurka in WW2 He had many (or all) in his regiment if I remember correctly. He told me there was no better fighting force than the ghurka. He was regimental sergeant major.NCO I think he as with all combatants was a hero ,well he certainly was to me anyway. I remember his Ghurka knife which he enjoyed showing us. I think he kept in contact with his Ghurka 2nd until he died. The war ,the japs couldn't get him but Cancer did. To end on a good note he always wanted his own pub to run and he ended up with three .He enjoyed his return to relative normality post War and that's got to be worth something.

He can't reply for a day, he's in timeout for negative commenting on a sale item.

I believe this Ito original to the sword, it's uncommon but that style of Ito was done usually on higher grade swords.

The irony is so thick it is condensing on the mirrors. Geez. It's like having Adrian back. Adam, you jump to far too many conclusions. Alex was making a comment about ALL collectors should stop collecting unless they plan on keeping every item, if it is impossible to ship anything. Obtuse yes...but wasn't directed at you specifically. Sarcasm at its weakest. But everyone seems so eager to argue lately. Perhaps if you weren't in every thread you may not have to argue so much.

..https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/treasures-of-temples-and-shrines/hwKyGKCr7r_XJw Best

The new board is working well but I do have 2 thoughts. I think having to confirm that I want to mark a forum as read is unnecessary (and annoying); I can't imagine clicking Mark As Read by accident. And -- this one has been with me for a long time -- I wish the ENTER NMB page said "I agree to the terms below" rather than "I agree to the below terms". And if neither of these happen, somehow I'll survive. Thanks, Grey

Below is a link to a thread on this topic. As Bob notes, I did a long article on the Yamakichibei group of artists for the JSSUS a couple of years ago, which I could add to the articles section here, if it is not too long, and if I can (figure out how to) load such a big article (with quite a few images). Not sure if that would be okay... Brian? Cheers, Steve

That is a good looking sword, I am guilty of paying a little to much for one item in a group if there is something in it I really want. I guess it all comes out in the wash.

1990 is calling the dataspace is too expensive... Back to topic i would love to see koto blades in their condition back in the time right after they were finished.

On January 6, 2017 I posted here a few orphan fuchi. I sold most of them since I didn't see any point in collecting broken sets. But kept only one example, a signed Furukawa Jochin fuchi with a priest and kids. Only one single piece in my whole collection. Just didn't want to part with it since I very much like the motobori techniques. And finally a couple of months ago while running my daily search I found a kashira, which in my opinion matches the fuchi almost perfectly except maybe the inlay work but in motif for sure. So, meet the new happy couple)

Yours is an inch longer than mine, George (don't go there! Ha!) Your question did prompt me to re-look at my star-stamped Kunitoshi. There are no stamped numbers, just painted ones (that oddly don't match the seppa numbers - 3377 painted, 945 seppa) so, my idea that the stamped numbers had something to do with the RJT is probably wrong. They are likely stamped fitting shop numbers.

To preserve the pictures: Rock Island will send more pics, if requested. Be nice to see the nakago.

On the subject of this private order Tsukamoto Masakazu blade above. I have a couple of questions members might be able to help with...Just to add to the Rinji Seishiki knowledge base. Have a look at pics. 1. the blade is 69.5 cm.(27 3/8 in)...have other menbers seen this length blade in Rinji mounts ? 2. notice that the menuki are gilt/brass pattern instead of the usual 'Rinji pattern' black iron menuki...have members seen these as well?...maybe just a private order "customer choice" thing? Be interested to know just how "varied" the Rinji sytem was. Regards, (Edit) well there you go...I should have looked at post #55 on this thread and I would have seen the gilt/brass menuki on a Rinji...duuhh! Well, still interested in how common they are and answers on long blades.

Brian I know how hard (and painful) setting all the new stuff has been. Thanks. Is there a way to delete the Japan News from the top of the page. I, personally, find its scrolling a bit annoying. Rich

Well Adam, i can only state how things turn out with my own experiences with shipping. Posted and recieved many arms over recent years, from swords to guns, without issue. Antique works for me, as its an antique and as it has not been held for any reason then i guess they must have been ok with it ? Well packed, with no danger to employees. If you feel it too risky then i would follow the advice above and just deliver yourself. Bst.

I took a chance on this Wakizashi from a UK auction recently as it looked quite interesting due to the Tokkotuki-Ken and a Fudo Myoo bonji engravings. Condition is worse than I expected with numerous chips out of the cutting edge and a blister on the edge of the Bo-Hi but it could be restored if it's worth going down that road. The Habaki will take some work to get it off so I haven't tried yet. What's do you guys think of it?

Right...since we have a suggestions post now, I am going to ask people to post ANY suggestions they have. There are a LOT of things I need to address, and am doing them slowly as I get a chance. Some involve members that need to exit the forum for the benefit of the rest. Some involve changing the look and colours. New sections being added, and some promotion of dealers. I aim to change the colours closer to the old forum, but to do that I need to wait a bit as we are going to an even newer software and some of the themes aren't compatible. Don't worry...not many changes for you guys. Please post your suggestions. Anything. You can be brutal or honest. If it makes sense, and is a popular suggestion, I'll do my best to accommodate.

Last night I was watching a program on J TV where they travel the old roads of Japan looking for family treasures, or unopened old safes "Akazu no Kinko". I sadly missed the name of the particular temple they were visiting, but somewhere along the old Tokaido it was, and they featured a complete inner wall hung with a huge assortment of dusty and rusty old armour taken from the battlefield of Okehazama. Open to public viewing at some time, that practice has subsequently been stopped. The Head Priest showed off two in particular to the Fuji TV film crew; one was the Dou of an ashigaru (nice gold Mon) with a rusted square hole through the front just below the rib cage right, 'from a spear thrust', he said. Another was a Dou and Yaro Kabuto, both covered in thick (but thinning) bear fur, enough to make anyone sneeze.

Revised chapter 50 was posted today. this is Part 2 of chapter 15, Late Kamakura Period Sword. This chapter explains the transition from Ikubi Kissaki to the longer Kissaki. Please click the link below to go to this chapter directly. https://studyingjapaneseswords.com/2019/03/25/50part-2-of-15late-kamakura-period-sword/ Thank you Yurie

Cool find, Peter.

Thank you Paul for this interesting topic. Michael sets out the big dream. There are a few cut-throat billionaires in Japan who can't even get there and money isn't the problem. It's a strange country. Here we'd just put everything in auction and let them bleed each other out to "price find" the piece. I don't know if this is only with sword because of their special cultural role or say, it extends to pottery and whatnot. Now we also have "quirks" in our aspirations, things which go off the beaten path or things we know just don't fit into the canvas. I'd love one day find a fine exemplar of Nosada's work paired with a Higo koshirae. Which is strange given my collection goals I also would love to find a particularly rustic Ko-Hoki. This one at least makes a bit of sense... I love swords with surprising stories. Discover new swords with great stories attached. It's an open-ended dream...no particular requirements here. Oh, and have many friends living close-by sharing the same passion, so that we can study and share today.

Gentlemen, This is a light-hearted topic and should be treated as such. There is nothing wrong with dreaming and aspiring. Whether these are top-name smiths, as in my case and Paul's, or more modest dreams. Everyone is entitled to their aspirations and casting aspersions on those is just petulant. Kiril - I am interested in reading these pamphlets you mention below: '30 pages pamphlets written on the subject. Buy a library, spend decades like me in "Studious Research, while cultivating the Inner Aesthetics of Samurai". Authored with no exception by owners of about a dozen of "very beginner Juyo" and other budget-friendly blades.' Please tell me the names and authors so that I could look them up. By the way, Kurokawa san measures up the visitors to his shop and decides what blades he will sell to whom. It is a complete fallacy that one with a stash of money can simply just walk into Sokkendo and buy whatever they want, let alone the topmost blades. Quite the opposite, in fact. One of the top collectors in the world really wants some of Kurokawa san's blades. His wealth is measured in 8 or 9 zeros. However, Kurokawa san does not sell them to him. I am afraid, as you yourself know, in Japan it is primarily about relationships, respect etc etc. Similarly, there are old collectors in rural Japan with great blades - Masamune, Sadamune, Takagi Sadamune, ko-Bizen, etc, who deliberately do not sell to Tokyo dealers and avoid them. Again, not only money, but relationships and regard for who the next custodian of a blade is. Another point, obliquely made by Kiril - there is no such term as a 'successful collector'. Success in collecting can only be defined by oneself, since only one can determine the criteria and methods to selecting and achieving one's collection. Now, such methods and criteria can evolve over time, and that is common and normal. But again - one needs to be happy with his/her approach to collecting and not become enslaved by an obsession to own a certain item, because such a pursuit could lead to a psychological and financial ruin.

Kirill, This post has nothing at all to do with "The rules of collecting" That discussion has been done to death time and time again. Actually there aren't any, a collector should do what gives them most satisfaction. This was supposed to achieve two things 1. It was meant as a light hearted exercise and to get people thinking 2. If done and kept it may serve to compare to a later list to gauge how an individual's tastes change. The mishmash list as you described it are as I said based predominantly on blades I have seen first hand and liked a great deal. The choice has nothing to do with name or money it has to do with blades that I really liked. So to clarify: 1 Awataguchi- blades seen at Christies in 2005 2. Ko-Bizen- Samurai art expo 2016 3. Shintogo British Museum Yukimitsu Michael Hagenbusch collection 4. Tiama DTI 2014 5. Rai Kunimitsu DTI The others frankly I don't clearly remember where I saw them but I hope this clarifies the point that the list is based on personal experience observation and preference. It has nothing to do with buying big names. For me the object of owning such a list is they represent the best examples I have seen of the features I like in a sword. Even it was achievable, which for me it isn't, it has absolutely nothing to do with one upmanship showing off or bragging rights they just happen to be, in my opinion, the best examples of the art. Regarding other points I can understand your love of Norishige, I don't share it and for me the best Soshu work is Shintogo and Yukimitsu but that doesn't make you wrong and me right it is just different. Oh and by the way the according to Tanobe Sensei the term "Shodai Yamato Shizu" is used on Juyo papers to distinguish the mumei work of Kaneuji after he moved to Shizu from that of his pupils. So that's "what the hell that means." I am not sure what has given you your chip on your shoulder but I would appreciate it if you didn't use what I hoped was a reasonably gentle and good natured post as an opportunity to rant about something that isn't there.

Not a tsuba, but it is by Ford: https://kramerknives.com/product/vase/

Ben I think it's a nice find for what it is. I like the decorations. It will need a good polish though and you will lose some of the carvings now close to the surface. It's almost like we could do with a less invasive polish for swords with decorative additions. Still should be a nice item. Where's the blister?? The mounts were in their day impressive for a handachi with that Jabarra battle complex Ito. (Wow that is an interesting auto correct!) Jabarra style Ito was typed. What are the menuki florals? At a guess I would think the kozuka and tsuba swap outs by whoever owned it before. They are not as premium as the rest implied. Pressed kozuka and almost looks cast tsuba. What was your total Inc premium?

Greg, really nice set and I gotta say when it comes time enjoy shopping for its match and the reward when you see it all together. The menpo looks made for the helmet. My little "set" gives a way a bit of that pieced together look. With its age a bit of a zombie-esque appearance.

Dear Ben. Might just be shinogi bi, hi running along the shinogi, rather than hirazukuri. From the look of the kissaki it seems possible. Still an interesting thing. All the best.

Is it just the lighting or does that nakago seem unnaturally dark? Almost like a coating on the surface that's begun to flake. Pictures of the whole blade would help the folk here with your determination.

This is revised Chapter 49, Part 2 of Chapter 14, Late Kamakura Period History. This chapter explains how the Mongolian invasion happened on 1274 and 1281. You may find this chapter very exciting. Please click the link below to go to this chapter directly. https://studyingjapaneseswords.com/2019/03/14/49-part-2-of-14late-kamakura-period-鎌倉後期歴史/ Because the editor suggested me a few things, chapter numbering may be confusing for a while until I finish changing. The reference chapter and other few chapter will change the location. On Chapter 39, Heian Period History, a few things were added. Thank you Yurie

I agree with Ken. I don't throw out papers. I have had a sword with three different attributions by three different groups. I leave it up to the next owner to choose the preferred papers or toss the green papers.

The problem with not tossing them in the fire pit is that these floating papers contribute to fraud. There is an aftermarket for green papers. The nakago "scrubbings" of the time aren't exactly distinctive and it's easy to doctor the paper. It's like having an old fake passport. Last I saw you can buy green papers or kicho papers, or even honami origamis, on YJP! These are used to cook-up frauds. I mean sure, go ahead and record the name of the person who submitted it and the year it went in, but that's all that needs to be recorded. These papers are radioactive now, and while it's taking time for everyone to adjust, that's the reality. Whatever is left floating around with a green paper should be considered dubious at best and fraudulent at worst.

John, if you have provenance on a blade, you want it to be valid provenance, & the old kicho papers aren't valid. Now, that being said, when I resubmitted one of my blades, & it came back with Hozon, I didn't throw out the kicho origami. I did staple a note to the kicho that they were no longer valid, in case the next caretaker wants to know the history.

John, I think Chris has summarised the situation very clearly. In reality the debate has less to do with "is the sword authentic" than what is the markets perception of selling a blade with a green paper. If this was papered to Echizen Seki and confirmed by an NTHK paper I doubt many would be over concerned. But this is a big name and if authentic of relatively high value. This being the case the obvious buyer question would be "why hasn't it been resubmitted?" I understand the arguments about inconvenience the ease of having a local shinsa paper compared to sending it to Japan but the brutal market reality is that there will always be the question "why hasn't it been resubmitted" and that will hold back the value.

Is there something I don't catch in the point you're trying to make? The green paper remains utterly irrelevant regardless if it is proven TRUE or FALSE because the modern NBHTK paper is the certification gold standard and the green paper adds no new information to it in terms of the sword's attribution. Or put in less formal ways, roll in a ball, toss in fireplace 😂 Perhaps you could explain a little more your specific scenario? As for NBTHK, NTHK, NPO, etc...it's all contextual. BIG NAME Green paper by itself = hot garbage BIG NAME Green paper + NTHK or NPO certificate in agreement = big suspicions: owner has been "rolling the attribution dice until results convenient" BIG NAME Green paper + NBTHK papers in agreement = never happens because green paper gets rolled and tossed into fireplace 😂 Now if it's medium name or small name on a signed sword, it's a different story. Then I trust NPO and NTHK papers because the US Shinsa is very convenient and paying 2K for hauling a blade to Japan to certify muromachi SUKESADA SAKU is just folly. Would you pay Kyomaro price for a Kyomaro with green papers and NTHK-NPO certificate? Probably not. You'd wonder why the owner doesn't like FREE MONEY by sending the sword to Japan and getting NBHTK certification. You'd be right in most cases. Not all, but the vast majority. If the "Kyomaro" comes from a dealer or someone knowledgeable with swords and it feels cheap then shhhh! it's a trap! And this inevitably gets priced in. Lately there are a few NPO "mistakes" that even the Market won't buy - for instance a Wako by Shinkai which went unsold in the infamous auction. 6K, Shinkai Wako. If it had NBHTK paper it would have sold instantly. These guys process a lot of swords with limited time and without weighty references overseas, it's normal mistakes happen. This topic is a dead horse but as we saw with Rich it's good to sometimes beat it up again to make sure it's really DEAD

Just seems to be the igeta (well top) in a circle... Hawley p.79 gives about 9 examples...none with 'ichi' in the centre. You'll have to search... Sorry,

MODS can you please close this thread so that it can conclude with Alex having the last word (this is very important to him) Thank you

Let me get this right. Are you suggesting that I stop collecting? I didn't say we were without options just that people need to avoid assuming that an item might be acceptable when it is probably considered prohibited. Customs Fees not paid is one thing shipping dangerous goods that are prohibited is another. Well done for getting away with it for so long. Let's hope your arrogant stance, doesn't turn around and bite you on the ass. Now please keep your thoughts to yourself nothing more needs to be added by you it is clear you're far cleverer than the rest of us. Good luck.